Couldn't some of you guys living in USA just send one over to them? I've orderd this and that from USA and delivery has been quick even without express. DHL only charged 20 eur last time (25usd app). I was wondering if there is point to put a small package of critical care into the box, too? I can assist in payment if that is a case.

@SardonicSmile: Rufi is active, lively, cleans himself, even put some weight on him, eats on his own only cucumber and cabbage, but only in small amounts. He wears his chin-sling multiple times a day, though he doesn't like it (he fights when I want to put on him the chin-sling, which is good a sign).

@Hanna: Thank you for your idea and kind offer! The problem is that in my area Guinea pigs are not common pets, the vets have no experience with them, I had to travel to another town to get x-rays and his molars cuts. Consequently, one cannot find Critical Care or has to order pellets from the internet. I usually order my sporting apparel from amazon and eastbay, and have to wait for 3-4 weeks (and go to customs). Anyway, I thinks his feeding is ok, since he is on this diet for 7 weeks and seems to be ok. Also, money is no issue, I would pay the required sums of money to ease his pain or get him well (in the end, I am the one who caused all this, since I stepped on him).

@Talishan: Thank you! I can say the same thing to you and others who help with information and advice...

I will post whenever there is a change in Rufi's situation. In the meantime, I stopped administering pain killers, since I don't see anymore a difference in his behavior - I don't think he has jaw pains anymore. He is curious, lively, only that he will/can't eat on his own. He also swallows 2x times faster as before when I hand feed him.

I have some good news!
Rufi began to eat radish leaves in such an amount that he would maintain his weight without hand feeding. Nevertheless, I still give him a small amount of mix with the main ingredient being pellets. He also eats limited amounts of apple, cabbage or cucumber.
The only downside is that he doesn't cuts his leaves, but tears them using his front legs and mouth.

Then it looks like the Chin-Sling is doing its job! You can gradually reduce the hours he wears it as his jaw muscles redevelop. At some point he may not need to wear it at all. You will be able to tell as the usually first sign of jaw muscle weakness on one side is slanted incisors.

Weight is also a good way of keeping track of his chewing ability.

I had a pig who only needed to wear the Chin-Sling every third day. On the third day her incisors developed a slight slant. Her eating problem was due to a weak heart. Actually she was our first official heart pig after we concluded guinea pigs couldn't get Walking Pneumonia(diagnosis from radiologist) and survive. The "pneumonia" was fluid in her lungs and when we gave her Lasix, her very pronounced pea eye disappeared which told us the pea eye was not due to fat but to fluid. That lead us to understanding Pea Eye could be an indication of circulation problems i.e. heart issues. And then the battle of convincing other vets pigs could get heart disease began and as long time members will remember it was a frustratingly long and difficult battle with even a member's vet taking part by writing his experiences with heart issues in pigs and allowing Lynx to publish it (thanks to Bug's Mom's vet). And now exotic textbooks finally have heart disease for guinea pigs covered. Can't honestly say this was due to Guinea Lynx but I like to think we put the bug in the veterinary community's ear.

Depending on Rufi's age and the reason his jaw muscles weakened - a trial of heart meds may be advisable. Pigs with weak hearts tend to choose breathing over eating resulting in weight loss and jaw muscles weakened thru underuse.

With senior pigs, malocclusion and heart problems often go hand in hand.

Rufi started to eat fresh grass. I had to leave town in the weekend, so I took Rufi with me. When I put him in the grass, he ate a little bit! Interestingly, he won't eat hay, but eating grass (though not in large amounts) is a huge development. It must be the chin-sling...

And now the problems: he lost 5% of his weight in the weekend. Maybe because of the stress of the car travel? In the last week he was maintaining his weight with me giving him just a few syringes of mix/day. I will hand feed him more aggressively. He is very thin for a 1 year old GP: just 420 grams.

@Pinta: I think and hope that he doesn't have heart issues. He had a jaw dislocation and, I presume, he didn't want to eat because of the pain, so his muscles have weakened.

P.S. Though I am just a new member of this forum, I am grateful that I found this place. Without you guys Rufi would not be living. So, (and there are many more reasons) guinea lynx certainly makes a difference...